Beam attachment clamp



April 13, 1954A P. FRIEI. 2,675,201 BEAM ATTACHMENT CLAMP Filed Sept. 22, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. A'rmcx Faim.

April 13, 1954 P. FRIEL l 2,675,201

BEAM ATTACHMENT CLAMP Filed Sept. 22, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PATRICK F'Rml.

BY amm Patented Apr. 13, 1954 BEAM ATTACHMENT CLAMP Patrick Friel, Richmond Hill, N. Y. Application September 22, 1948, Serial No. 50,532

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a pipe hanger.

The present invention relates to a pipe hanger characterized by a member for attachment to the bottom flange of an I-bearn or the like for serving when thus attached to suspend a hanger for a sprinkler or other water pipe, a gas pipe, an electric cable or an analogous service unit; and, more particularly, the aim is to provide a novel and valuable pipe hanger which. may be easily and quickly and securely attached, and which throughout is of exceedingly simple and inexpensive construction.

According to the invention, the new clamp may comprise aside from one or more standard nuts, set-screws or the like, such a small plurality of parts that, in one way of carrying out the inven tion, thereby to provide a clamp adjustable for nice t attachment to any one of a number of I-beams differing in regard to bottom flange width,` the total number of parts present are merely three in number, While, in another way of carrying out the invention, thereby to lprovide a clamp designed to be attached to an I-beam of a certain bottom-flange Width, there are pres' ent only two parts.

In the inst-mentioned -of said two ways of carrying out the invention, the clamp, incorporating two opposing claws plus a member for spanning the underside of the I-bearns bottom flange transversely thereof, has oneV of these claws threadedly connected to said spanning member, with the other claw coupled to said member otherwise than by a threaded connection therewith. Here each claw is a bent terminal portion of a short length of standard round rod stock. i

In the second-mentioned of said two ways of carrying out the invention, said spanning mem ber integrally carries one of the two opposing a claws, with the other claw a bent terminal portion of a short length of standard round rod stock, and with the spanning `member merely a squarely cut oi length of standard strip stock, variously bent.

In either of the preceding ways of carrying out the invention,alength of standard round rod stock may provide one of said claws and also act as a means for directly suspending the hanger, or an additional element of standard round rod stock may be solely used for such suspension.

It is a further object of this ix'iventcnI topon- .struct a hanger `for pipes and the like which in-V cludes a one-.piece member `provided at 'one end with a bent portion for engaging one side of the bottom flange of the I-beam and provided at its other end with spaced nger portions arranged in a manner to be easily bent about the other side of the bottom flange of theI-bearn for completing the attachment of the one-piece member to the I-beam.

Another object of the present inventionvproposes providing the one-piece member with a U- shaped portion between the spaced 'finger portions with which the threaded top end of a hanger is threadedly engaged for connecting the hanger with the one-piece member in a manner to have a pipe or the like extend therethrough.

For further comprehension vof the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reierence will `be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features' of the invention are more particularly set forth. In the accompanying drawings forming `a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 shows in transverse vertical section the lower portion of an I-beam, and illustrates in side elevation, attached to the bottom flange of said beam, a pipe hanger constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, looking to ward the left in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. l, but illustrat ing the hanger constructed in accordance with a modification of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the spanning mem* ber of the device of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on the line 6--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is another view similar-to Fig. l, but illustrating another modification ci the present invention. y

Fig. 8 is still another view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating still another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a still further view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating still another niodiiication of the present invention.

Fig. l0 is an enlarged detailed View .of a portion of Fig. 9 in longitudinal section.

Fig. l1 is a perspective view of the spanning member of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 prior to attachment to the lower flange of the I-beam. f

Fig. 12 is a partia11 perspective 'view of the 3 spanning member from the end opposite that shown in Fig. 11.

In various of these views an I-beam is shown of a standard familiar cross-section, the central web of which is marked I and the bottom flange of which is marked I I.

Referring to Figs. 1-3, the clamp here illustrated comprises a spanning member I4, a claw I5 and an opposing claw I6, these claws for engaging and gripping between them the opposite side portions of lthe flange II. The claw I5 is established by a bent terminal portion of a round rod I1 of cold rolled steel or the like and having a thread I1', this thread for matching an internal thread I8 in a recess I9 extending longitudinally axially of the spanning member I4; which latter, of cold rolled steel or the like, is `generally cylindrical. The claw I6 is established by a bent terminal portion of a round rod 2 I, of cold rolled steel or the like; said rod having a thread 22.

The spanning member I4 has, at its end opposite to its end from which the recess I9 is extended, a longitudinally extending recess 23 aligned with the recess I9 and internally threaded for taking a hex-head set-screw 24, the shank of which has a thread matching the thread in the recess 23. The ree end of the shank of the set-screw 24 is for engaging the rod 2l at a point above the upper end of its thread 22. For this purpose, the spanning member I 4 has, further, a vertical cylindrical hole 25 for receiving the rod 2|, this hole extending transverse to the length of the member I4 and with its center-line in the same plane as the center-line of the recess 23.

As an'auxiliary to Said-set-screw 24, a nut 26 is threaded on the rod ZI. Thus, the nut may be turned up on the rod, against the underside of 'the spanning member I4, to draw down the claw I6 tight against its side of the flange I I, and then the set-screw 24 may be tightened to'prevent angular displacement of said claw, and at the same time assist in holding the nut in its tightened position.

In applying the clamp just described to the I- beam I9, the rod I1 is spirally adjusted relative to the spanning member I4 until, with the claws in line, the grip gap between them is equal to the width of the flange I I. Next, with the rod 2l temporarily removed, the claw I5 Vis hooked onto the flange II, the spanning member I4 is arranged against the underside of said flange and at right angle to the length thereof, then the rod 2I is added, and then, as just above stated, the set-screw 24 is tightened and after that the nut 26 is tightened.

In the clamp of Figs. 1 3, the threaded depending length of the rod 2l is prolonged sufliciently to allow threaded connection therewith of a hanger 21 of any desired type.

Referring to Figs. 4-6, here the spanning member 28 is, as shown best in Fig. 5, made simply as a squarely cut off length of standard strip steel stock, said strip being at one end obliquely bent to provide an upwardlyprojected cla-Wj 29 and at its other end .being perpendicularly bent to provide a vertically upstanding lug 3e.

The opposing claw 3I is established by a bent terminal portion of a round rod 32 of cold rolled steel or the like; said rod corresponding in all respects to the rod 2I except that the top of the thread 33 of the rod 32 is at a higher point thereon,` to allow for?A the `fact thatthe vstripis'toclr of which the spanning member 28 is made isofa thickness lessthan that. of the spanning member 4 I4, and, consequently, to permit a nut 34 on the thread 33 to be tightened up sufficiently to draw the clau7 3l down tightly on its side of the flange II.

The portion of the rod 32 below the claw 3l and just above and at the upper end portion of the thread 33 is received in a vertical cylindrical hole 35 through the spanning member 28. The threaded portion of the rod 32 is, as in the case of the rod 2|, extended downward to a sufcient extent to allow threaded connection therewith of a suitable hanger, for instance one like the hanger 2 I.

In applying the clamp just described to the I- beam I0, the rod 32 is removed, or, with said rod retained the nut 34 is run down far enough on the thread 33 to allow considerable elevation of the claw 3|. In the first of the two cases just mentioned, the claw 29 is hooked onto the flange I I, the spanning member 28 is arranged against the underside of said flange at'right angles to the length thereof, the rod 33 'is dropped down through the hole 35'and the claw '3l is properly engaged with the ange II, the nut 34 is turned up to cause the lsaid claw SI to grip the flange tightly, and the hanger is then added. Or, if prior to hooking the claw 29 onto the ange II, the nut 34 was merely run down along the thread 33, it is new only required, afterv arranging the spanning member against the'underside of said flange, to turn up the nut 34 to the extent necessary to cause the claw 3i to grip the flange tightly.

Referring to Fig. '1, here again the spanning member 36 is simply a squarelyrcut olf length of standard steel stock. The claw 31, at one end of the member 36, is like the claw 29'; but the opposite end of said member 36 is U-bent as at 33 to provide a leg 39 lying below and parallel with the main straight portion of the member 36.

The opposing claw 40 is established by a bent terminal portion of a round rod 4I of cold rolled steel or the like; said rod below its claw extending down'through a cylindrical aperture 42 in the member 36 and therebelow having a thread 43 so placed that the portion of said rod carrying the upper 'portion of said thread passes through an aperture 44 in the leg 39 and aligned with the aperture 42. Below the aperture 44 the threaded portion of the rod 4I is of sucient length 1-,0 take a nut 45.

In the clamp just described, the manner of application which to the I-beam I6 will be understood from what has previously been said, an additional round rod 46 is yprovided for suspending a hanger,l said rod having a thread along the entire length thereof. Vertically aligned cylindrical holes 41 and 49, for passage therethroughof the Vrod 46, are in', respectively, the main portion of the spanning member 28 and its leg 39; and nuts 49 and 5B are4 provided to anchor the, rod 46 tQ the clamp.

-Referringto Fig.- S'fher'e 4o'r'1 'ce7rno'1ethe -span'- ning member'l l.il is simply asquarely cut off length of standard steel stock. The claw y62, at one end of the member 5I, is like the claws 29 and 31; and the other end of the member 5I is U-bent as at 53 to establish a leg 54 parallelly underlying the main portion of said member. In this case,y however, the vertical spacing ofv the leg 54 below the main portion ofthe spanning member is just suicient to accommodate a nut 55 while somewhattightly and hence appreciably frictionally iengaging. the opposite faces of said nut. nut is for taking :athread 5610i a round rod 51, of cold rolled steel or the like, and terminally bent at its upper portion to provide a claw 53. The threaded portion of the rod 51 passes through two vertically extending and aligned cylindrical holes 59 and 60 in, respectively, the spanning member `I and its leg 54.

The threaded depending length of the rod 51 is prolonged sufficiently to allow threaded connection therewith of a suitable hanger, for instance one like the hanger 2|.

In the further modification of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the pipe hanger is characterized by a spanning member 10 mounted transversely across the bottom face of the lower flange II of the Lbeam. A rod 1I is depended from one end of the member 10 and a hanger 12 has threaded connection with the lower end of the rod 1I The spanning member 10 is of one-piece construction and formed of a length of metal bent at one end into a claw portion 13 Which extends about one side of the bottom flange II of the I-beam. The main body portion 14 of the spanning member 10 extends across the bottom face of the bottom flange II. At the opposite end of the main body portion 14 of the spanning member 16 there is formed a pair of finger portions 15. Prior to application of the spanning member 10 to the bottom flange I I of the I-beam, the nger portions 15 extend upwards at right angles to the main body portion 14, as shown in Figs. 1l and 12, to be bent about the opposite side of the bottom ange II, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, securely attaching the spanning member 10 to the bottom ilange I I of the I-beam.

A U-shaped portion 16 continues from the end of the main body portion 14 between the finger portions 15 and the top end of the rod 1I is threadedly engaged through aligned holes 11 formed in the arms of the U-shaped portion 16. A lock nut 18 is threadedly engaged on the rod 1I and tightened against the bottom face of' the U-shaped portion 16 to securely lock the rod 1I in a desired adjusted position relative to the spanning member 10.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modiilcations coming within the scope of the invention as delined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An I-beam clamp for use with substantially horizontal flanges having free outer edges, comprising an elongated strip of flat material positioned with one face engaging ilat against the bottom face of the beam, an upwardly bent claw at one end of said strip engaged over the free edge of one of said ilanges and engaging flatly over the top face of said one ilange, said strip having its other end extending beyond the free edge of the other ilange and reverted downward and under forming a horizontal leg spaced vertically from the bottom face of said beam, said strip and said leg having vertically aligned apertures adjacent the free edge of said other flange, a rod vertically and slideably extended through said apertures and having its top end bent into a claw engaged about the free edge of said other flange for flat engagement with the top side of said other ilange adjacent the outer 6 free edge thereof, means drawing downward on said rod holding said second claw in a position engaged about the free edge of said other Flange.

2. An I-beam clamp for use with substantially horizontal ilanges having free outer edges, comprising an elongated strip of flat resilient material positioned with one face engaging ilat against the bottom face of the beam, an upwardly bent claw at one end of said strip engaged over the free edge of one of said flanges and engaging flatly over the top face of said one flange, said strip having its other end extending beyond the free edge of the other flange and reverted downward and under forming a hori* zontal leg spaced vertically from the bottom face of said beam, said strip and said leg having vertically aligned apertures adjacent the free edge of said other flange, a rod vertically and slidably extended through said apertures and having its top end bent into a claw engaged about the free edge of said other ange for fiat engagement with the top side of said other flange adjacent the outer free edge thereof, means drawing down- Ward on said rod holding said second claw in a position engaged about the free edge of said other flange, said drawing means comprising threads formed on said rod below said leg, and a nut threaded onto said rod, and tightened against the bottom face of the leg tensioning the reverted extension of said resilient strip.

3. An I-beam clamp for use with substantially horizontal flanges having free outer edges, comprising an elongated strip of flat resilient material positioned with one face engaging flat against the bottom face of the beam, an upwardly bent claw at one end of said strip engaged over the free edge of one of said flanges and engaging ilatly over the top face of said one flange, said strip having its other end extending beyond the free edge of the other flange and reverted downward and under forming a horizontal leg spaced vertically from the bottom face of said beam, said strip and said leg having vertically aligned apertures adjacent the free edge of said other flange, a rod vertically and slidably extended through said apertures and having its top end bent into a claw engaged about the free edge of said other flange for ilat engagement with the top side of said other flange adjacent the outer free edge thereof, means drawing downward on said rod holding said second claw in a position engaged about the free edge of said other flange, said drawing means comprising threads formed on said rod below said leg, and a nut threaded onto said rod and tightened against the bottom face of the leg tensioning the reverted extension of said resilient strip, and means for supporting a hanger from said strip spaced outwardly from said drawing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 656,274 Streeter Aug.` 21, 1900 1,011,294 Warrick Dec. 12, 1911 1,046,904 Travalled Dec.` 10, 1912 1,373,716 Dottl et al. Apr. 5, 1921 1,399,960 Harding Dec. 13, 1921 1,652,695 Barber Dec. 13, 1927 1,976,595 Asleson et al. Oct. 9, 1934 2,049,893 Chicoine Aug. 4, 1936 2,164,846 Thompson July 4, 1939 2,470,991 Kindorf et al May 24, 1949 

